Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga has resigned with immediate effect, bringing to an end months of escalating tensions with Governor Gladys Wanga and positioning himself as a potential challenger for the county’s top seat in the 2027 General Election.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Magwanga cited persistent frustrations and deliberate obstructions that had rendered his office ineffective, preventing him from discharging his constitutional duties.
“Today, after deep reflection and consultations with leaders, supporters, and my family, I have resolved to resign from the office of the Deputy Governor with immediate effect,” Magwanga said.
He emphasised that he could no longer accept earning a salary without performing meaningful work, describing the circumstances as having “grounded” his mandate.
The resignation follows a series of public and administrative rifts that began shortly after the pair’s joint victory in the 2022 elections on what was initially seen as a unity ticket to consolidate support in the lakeside county.
Key flashpoints included a cabinet reshuffle that stripped Magwanga of oversight over the Agriculture docket, the locking of his official office in late 2025, the withdrawal of staff, and the repossession of his county vehicle, moves widely viewed as efforts to sideline him.
The fallout intensified during the Kasipul parliamentary by-election, where the two leaders reportedly backed rival candidates, exposing deep divisions within the county’s ODM-aligned political establishment.
In May 2025, Magwanga narrowly escaped what supporters described as an assassination attempt near his home in Kasipul, when gunmen ambushed his convoy at night.
He switched vehicles after receiving intelligence warnings, while security personnel exchanged fire with the attackers.
Police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
Magwanga, a former Member of Parliament with a solid base in Kasipul and central Homa Bay, framed his exit as a principled stand rather than defeat.
“I step aside with dignity and clarity of conscience,” he stated, vowing to tour the county to rally support for his gubernatorial bid.
The move removes an internal critic from Wanga’s administration but elevates a seasoned politician with grassroots appeal as a direct threat ahead of 2027.
In an official statement, Governor Wanga confirmed receipt of a resignation letter dated February 26, 2026, in which Magwanga tendered his resignation with immediate effect.
She stated that she had formally accepted the decision and, pursuant to Article 181(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and Section 32C(b) of the County Governments Act, 2012, declared the Office of the Deputy Governor of Homa Bay County vacant.
The Governor noted that prior to the 2022 General Elections, Magwanga had been a gubernatorial aspirant but agreed to deputize her following a request by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the interest of party unity.
She stated that upon assuming office, her administration fully facilitated the Deputy Governor in executing his constitutional mandate and went further to entrust him with the additional portfolio of County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock Development.
According to the Governor, his office was fully supported throughout his tenure.Addressing the reasons cited in the resignation letter, which referenced “persistent and irreconcilable differences,” Wanga said it was important for the public to understand that what she termed a sustained preoccupation with future political ambitions increasingly compromised the collective focus required in the Office of the Deputy Governor.
She emphasized that the people of Homa Bay are entitled to full-time and undivided service from their executive leadership.
The Governor further referenced the Kasipul parliamentary by-election, noting that the former Deputy Governor publicly opposed the ODM candidate, a move she said raised legitimate concerns about unity of purpose and commitment to their shared mandate.
Despite the political fallout, Wanga affirmed that her administration remains steadfast in delivering its development agenda across the county.
She assured residents that county government operations will proceed seamlessly, service delivery remains uninterrupted, and the vacancy in the Office of the Deputy Governor will be addressed strictly in accordance with the law.On behalf of the County Government and the people of Homa Bay, Governor Wanga thanked the former Deputy Governor for his service and wished him well in his future endeavors.
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